Whose Name We Share

126 AS9 Huntsman and AS10 Loader The ever changing landscape of artillery now sets its sights on SPH’s as the next step in the evolution of fires. The Land 8116 Project (protected mobile files program) seeks to acquire 30 AS9 Huntsmans and 15 AS10 ammunition resupply vehicles sometime in the 2020s as referenced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s election campaign in 2019. The move comes after the previously scrapped Land 17 Phase 1C in 2012, which also sought to acquire SPH’s. Land 8116 Phase 1 will finally address a capability gap that has been known for decades. The acquisition of AS9’s will complement the use of current in service M777A2 and will not likely seek to replace them entirely. The design comes from Hanwha Defence Australia, formerly Samsung Defence, in conjunction with Raytheon Australia and is based on the K9 and K10 SPH systems. The base model of the K9 features internal storage of 48 rounds and the K10 is able to carry 104. The K10 can resupply the K9 at a rate of 12 rounds per minute with both crews remaining inside the armour. The Australian AS9 and AS10 designs will integrate more armour, superior suspension and software systems such as BMS. The ammunition will use the already existing M-series as well as the new Assegai 155mm, which includes new percussion primers, high performance fuses and base bleed projectiles. Whether the 103 rd Battery will be the ones to receive the new systems is unclear and only time will tell. This step represents the first in the eventual phasing out of the field gunner, allowing room for the next generation of gunnery.